De La Rosa diagnosis: soreness in left elbow

It’s official: Jorge De La Rosa left today’s opener of a day-night doubleheader with soreness in his left elbow.

De La Rosa, 5-2 with a 3.34 ERA going into the game, left with a 1-1 count on Chris Young with one out in the third inning. Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca had gone to the mound moments earlier before a full contingent from the dugout, including manager Jim Tracy and trainer Keith Dugger, arrived.

De La Rosa, who spent time on the disabled list with an elbow strain in 2007, missed 13 starts last season with a torn ligament in his left middle finger. The Rockies were 4-9 in those 13 starts. He is scheduled to be evaluated further later today or Wednesday.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.